Merry Chrismas and a Happy Holiday

I would like to wish you all a merry Chrismas and a wonderful 2010.  And if you do not celebrate Chrismas, I hope you have a blissful day filled with all the things that make you happy :)

I am leaving for a few days' holiday and will be back after the New Year.  See you then!

Curl up with a book contest

“Click above to enter  "Curl Up with a Book…and  a Nook Contest”.

Wow, this looks like a yummy competition!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Lulu, the winner of the Heaven and Earth design.  I have send you an email already but it came back "undeliverable"!  Please email me.

EDIT:  Congratulations again, Lulu - glad you liked it!  Don't forget to send a pic when you are done stitching it!

Only one day left for the give-away

See my post below to take part in the give-away for a HEAVEN AND EARTH design.  Only one day left!

Oh Bones . . .

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow, I have to agree with the girls in the Paranormal Romance group - Bones is amazing, sexy, funny . . . wow . . . I loved this book. And when he calls her "Kitten" . . .
Cat is a half vampire who becomes the Night Huntress with the help of Bones, a master vampire. Even thought there is lots (and I mean lots) of action, there is also a love story that is not to be denied. I must say that "sad" endings are usually a total no-no for me, but I knew there were more in the series, so I had hope . . .
This book also had me laughting until the tears ran down my face . . . hubby must have thought me crazy!
Just look at this little paragraph from the book . . .

“I’m saying I’m a moody, insecure, narrow-minded, jealous, borderline-homicidal bitch, and I want you to promise me that you’re okay with that, because it’s who I am and you’re what I need."

What more can I say - nothing could beat that.

View all my reviews >>

A Chrismas give-away

 Well, it's only a week to go till Chrismas (can you believe that!) and I though I would have a little give-away for my cross stitch friends.  You guys have meant so much to me, so I just have to share the love  :)  I received a few HEAVEN AND EARTH designs from a fellow stitcher a while back (too many to possibly do myself - you know how slowly I stitch!), so I decided to share . . . and since it is Chrismas, I am making it a Chrismas design " Father Christmas with Toys".

If you would like to receive this design, please leave your name and details on this post up until 23 December 2009.  I will draw the name on the 24th of December and get in touch, just before we leave for our little mini holiday.

A good feeling

Billionaire's Proposition by Leanne Banks


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I needed a little break . . . and what a sweet little break this was! I have forgotten how good these little books can make one feel :) No terribly difficult storyline . . . just a man, a woman and a love story. What could be better :)

View all my reviews >>

A witchy story

My Favorite Witch by Lisa Plumley


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It even made me late for work this morning.  It is always a good sign when I cannot put a book down.
This love story was pretty simple. The big, powerful law man (with his sweet and loveable partner) take on an assignment to bring in a girl he cannot resist and sparks fly.  And don't forget the beautiful popular girls (or women in this case) that want to take over the world . . . Really sweet book :)

View all my reviews >>

A rant worth reading

These days I also read "book blogs" beside my cross stitching blogs and found this rant about the Twilight series on "A good addiction"  (http://agoodaddiction.blogspot.com/2009/12/random-rant.html).  I agree with it all - I was also tired of all the baggage thrown at Stephanie Meyer but Kari said it so much better that I could . . . I know that the Twilight series is not a literary masterpiece but these books gave me "reading" back :) 

My thoughts on Dark Seduction by Brenda Joyce

Dark Seduction by Brenda Joyce

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I didn't like the female lead, Claire, in the beginning of this book. If I had to read about her fear of "sex crimes" one more time in the first chapters, I was going to throw something! But as the story progressed, I liked her more and more and before long, I was hooked. And off course, Malcolm, is a very, very likeable hero! (these authors know how to keep a girl happy :) It was a easy story to follow without too much thinking to be done.

View all my reviews >>

Sony Ebook Reader

Does anyone have a eBook reader?  I am interested in buying one and would like to know if anyone have any comments about it?  I am leaning towards SONY because 1.) it's cheaper (a big consideration with our exchange rate) and 2.) because it can also "read" .pdf -files (and I already have some ebooks in .pdf -format.  I will just have to forget about my .lit-files).  Kindle is beautiful (sigh) but it doesn't help that it only seem to work with books bought from Amazon . . .

Evolution of Dance

This guy is amazing . . . and talented . . . and funny.  I recognized almost all the dances . . . and was giggling all the way :) 

The League Series

I have read the first in the series of THE LEAGUE called BORN OF FIRE. First let me say that I love Sherrilyn Kenyon, so I loved the book.  The story was easy to read and romantic tension was the order of the day.  I just didn't like the female character, Kiara, that much.  Every few pages, she would end up in a crying mess.  Okay, I admit - if I was in THOSE situations, I would probably also be a teary wreck but really . . . she is supposed to be the herione.  I kept on waiting for her to break out of it and grab a gun!

The Mercy Series

I finished the first of the Mercy-books, Moon Called.  It was light, easy reading - full of strange magic, the kind that I have not come across yet.  (but then I have only read the very commecial, romantic novels).  Here, werewolves, gremlins, vampires, fae and Mercy, herself a walker, filled the pages but not in the usual kind of dreamy fiction way.  The author made this world seem normal although these werewolves have issues - they are not the werewolves of romantic novels.  They can be downright dangerous!  Even friends can be growled down to submission before the alpha males.  I guess I am still in my romantic story-fog because I just longed for a little intimicy for Mercy. And I couldn't decide up to the last two pages who the lucky devil should be . . . but the right choice was made and I can't wait for that relationship to grow in the next books.

Before I go, I just have to share this little snippet I found in the review that made me search out the book.  It is a note written by Adam, the next door neighbour of Mercy - he is the local alpha werewolf :)  This note is taped to the cat carrier on Mercy porch.

MS. THOMPSON, it said in heavy block letters, PLEASE KEEP YOUR FELINE OFF MY
PROPERTY. IF I SEE IT AGAIN, I WILL EAT IT.

Technology scares me . . .

I don't mean in the "doom and gloom"-way or that I have a technology-phobia.  It is just that I am one of those people that wants the cellphone with the least amount of features.  It just has to be able to make or receive my calls, that is what it is for.  For a long time, I couldn't even send understandable SMS's (text messages in other languages :)  Luckily I love my little NOKIA now, it must be right at the bottom of the range . . .but at least I can make it work (that was until a friend tried to send me something by BLUETOOTH this week - she had to take my phone to push the right buttons.)  I AM USELESS!  (lol)

Tonight I tried to figure out TWITTER . . . nope, I am non-the-wiser.  When did I get left behind in the dark ages!!  At one time I was the one that showed my friends the wonderful world of computers . . . what happend?

Blog Candy

Kari of A Good Addiction  reviewed this book and Random House decided to sponcer a give-away (you can also read her review on her blog).  This is a paranormal book which I have discovered is a favourite medium of mine at the moment.  I am not lucky in these kinds of give-aways (can't even win when there is only a few entries) but decided that I would give it a try anyway . . . Wish me luck!  If I am not lucky, I will be buying it in the new year.  Would really have enjoyed having it for my upcoming few days of holiday but it will take a little longer to order online (the postal system doesn't seem to be my friend most days!)

Ending:  06 December 2009

EDIT:  I wasn't one of the lucky ones :(  

Phoned my local bookstore this morning - the friendly girl there phoned the local publisher . . . the books are been distributed today (Monday - yipee).  My name is on the list, so I will get my copy later on in the week when it arrives at their store!  (smiles all around!)  I am not sure if I will be able to keep this books for my holiday-reading like I thought I would. . . 

EDIT:  Got my copy on Wednesday!  And I have been good - only read the first sentence!  Can't wait for my holiday.  Hubby even offered to hide it for me . . . that won't be a good idea.  I will be turning the house inside out trying to find it.  Better to just have it in eyesight all the time.

A few stitches

Here is an update of the stitching I have been doing - not much but at least I have started again (and it is still fun!).

100+ Reading challenge for 2010

I decided to join a reading challenge for 2010.  Since I have re-discovered my reading mojo and I AM a list-junkie, I decided that I would list all the books I read for 2010 here (with little amuteur reviews as I read them in my blog posts).   If you would like to join the challenge, you will find all the details here.  Let's join the fun . . .

1.  The Host by Stephanie Meyer 

2.  Dark Lover  (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1)by JR Ward  

3.  Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely #1) by Melissa Marr 

4.  Fallen by Lauren Kate 

5.  The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underwold#1) by Gena Showalter 

6.  Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood#2) by JR Ward 

7.  Lover Awakend (Black Dagger Brotherhood#3) by JR Ward 

8.  Kamakazi by Moira Rogers 

9.    Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood#4) by JR Ward 

10.  Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood#5) by JR Ward 

11.  Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood#6) by JR Ward 

12.  Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield 

13. Ecstacy (The Shadowdwellers#1) by Jacquelyn Frank 

14. UR by Stephen King  

15.  Evermore (The Immortals#1) by Alyson Noel 

16.  Dead until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse#1) by Charlaine Harris 

17.  Devil in a Kilt (MacKenzie#1) by Sue-Ellen Wellfonder 

18.  The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride#1) by James Patterson 

19.  Irish Thoroughbred (Irish Hearts#1) by Nora Roberts 

20.  Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls#1) by Maggie Stiefvater 

21. Dangerous Highlander (The Dark Sword#1) by Donna Grant 

22. A Honeybun and coffee by Sam Cheever

23. A Rose in Winter by Kathleen E Woodiwess 
24. Beyond the Highland Mist (Highlander#1) by Karen Marie Moning 
25. Pack Challenge (Magnus Pack#1) by Shelly Laurenston 
26. Go Fetch (Magnus Pack#2) by Shelly Laurenston 
27. Here Kitty,Kitty (Magnus Pack#3) by Shelly Laurenston
28. Once dead, twice shy (Madison Avery#1) by Kim Harrison 
29. Rapture (Shadowdwellers#2) by Jacquelyn Frank 
30. Life,Liberty and thePursuit of a Honeybun(Honeybun Hunks#2)by Sam Cheever

31.  Nice girls dont have fangs (Jane Jameson#1) by Molly Harper

32. Ruined: A Ghost story by Paula Morris 

33. Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling#1)by Nalini Singh 
34. Visions of Heat (Psy-Changeling#2) by Nalini Singh 
35. Caressed by Ice (Psy-Changeling#3) by Nalini Singh  
36.  Mine to Possess (Psy-Changeling#4) by Nalini Singh  
37. Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood#7) by JR Ward
38. Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changeling#5) by Nalini Singh
39. An Enchanted Season (Psy-Changeling Novella) by Nalini Singh
40. Two Man Team by Jet Mytles
41. Change of Heart by Mary Calmes
42. Aint to proud to beg (Dog Walkers#1) by Susan Donovan
43. Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling#7) by Nalini Singh
44. Angel's Blood (Guild Hunters#1) by Nalini Singh
45. Lord of the Highlands by Veronica Wolff
46. Fantasy Lover (Dark Hunter#1) by Sherrilyn Keyon
47. Blaze of Memory (Psy-Changeling#7) by Nalini Singh
48. Outlander (Outlander#1) by Diana Gabaldon
49. Pleasure (Shadowdwellers#3) by Jacquelyn Frank